In a similar message issued (Sept. 1), President Hassan Rouhani expressed
his gratitude to all Iranian sports people who took part in the 2018 Asian
Games in Indonesia.

Rouhani congratulated the Iranian athletes and teams on ‘obtaining the best
achievements and the most number of medals’ for Iran in the Asian
tournament.

Meantime, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani in a message congratulated the nation,
sports people and coaches on the success of the Iranian athletes in 2018
Asian Games.

He said international competitions provide an opportunity for forging amity
among nations and promoting spirit of friendship.

Asian Games brought together athletes from different countries irrespective
of their race, language or color to portray manifestations of interaction,
solidarity and struggles to achieve victory through healthy competitions, he
stressed.

Iranian sports people including men and women endeavored during the games
and produced bright results befitting the Iranian nation, particularly in
kabaddi, volleyball, basketball, water polo and wrestling, Larijani said.

He also hailed the Iranian sportswomen’s capabilities, saying that they won
medals in certain sporting events for the first time in the history of the
country’s sports and this indicates their power and strength in the
international sports events.

The total number of medals won by the Iranian athletes was unprecedented and
they managed to bring a valuable gift for the nation, Larijani said.

Collecting a total of 62 (20 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze) medals, Iran
finished the Asian tournament in sixth place in the medals table, after
China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Uzbekistan.

Iran’s team at the Asian Games collected most medals in wrestling to claim
its continental dominance in the sport. Iran also gained historical medals
in wushu, taekwondo and kabaddi, in which the national athletes had not won
a medal during the previous editions.

In a historical move Iranian women kabaddi players beat all time powerhouse
India 27-24 in the finals to claim the title for the first time. The loss
for Indians was the first in history.

To get into the final showdown the Iranian women overpowered renowned
kabaddi teams from Bangladesh and Pakistan in the earlier stages.

Iran men’s kabaddi team also made history when it beat seven-time Asian
Games winner India 27-18 in the semis to enter the finals against South
Korea.

Doubling the joy for Iranians, men’s kabaddi team stunned South Korea 26-16
to win the Asian Games title for the first time and bring India down from
its all-time dominance in the sport.

World’s fastest vertical man, climber Reza Alipour added the Asian Games
gold to his world championship glory by winning the speed climbing title in
Jakarta, passing the Chinese Qizin Zhong in the final heat.

In rowing, Iranian women bagged three silver and one bronze medals.

Iran national volleyball team overpowered South Korea in the final match to
win the 2018 Asian Games gold medal. Iran basketball players won the silver
medal after losing to China.

Noshad Alamiyan claimed a historic bronze medal in table tennis.

Iran has competed at the Asian Games since the first event in 1951 New
Delhi, and the best achievement was in 1974, when the country hosted the
event in Tehran, and ranked second by grabbing 36 gold, 28 silver and 17
bronze medals. In the previous edition in Incheon, the country wrapped up
its campaign with 57 medals in all - 21 gold, 18 silver and 18 bronze.